About - Simon Lee Guitars

Simon Lee

I trained originally as a sculptor and used this training to work as a prop and model maker in the theatre, film and television industries.

Working in this creative arena was very stimulating and forced me to think of different solutions to never before encountered problems. I have always enjoyed designing and making all manner of objects in any number of different media, and as a designer you begin to realise the possibilities and limitations of these various materials.

I have used all this past experience to influence the development of my range of Cyclotron guitars. After many years of working I decided to retrain as a Guitar Maker at Merton College. While doing this course I realised that I was unhappy about using tropical hardwoods in traditional guitar making - I had to find another way of making guitars using other materials - perhaps recycled or sustainable. This site is all about the results of that need to resolve these ideas.

The Cyclotron Guitars Range

The whole development behind the CYCLOTRON range came about because I am very concerned with the destruction of the rain forests and I wanted to build guitars that didn't glamourise exotic hardwoods, because I knew very well that these same timbers are becoming endangered species.

Instead of producing highly lacquered, exotic timber 'furniture' guitars, I have designed instruments that explore the potential of, and celebrate very modern materials.

Now you will understand the thinking behind my radical new Cyclotron Guitars.

Take a look around - the pictures should tell you a lot.